A driver allegedly fled the scene of an accident after rolling the Volvo SUV he was driving in Nanaimo鈥檚 south end last night.

At 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, there was a 鈥渇airly spectacular single-vehicle crash鈥� at the Express Care Oil Change near Needham and Nicol streets, according to reserve Const. Gary O鈥橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson. The vehicle was headed southbound and tried to turn left down Needham Street, flipped on its side and ended up in the parking lot at the automotive service shop and caught fire, he said.

A nearby closed circuit TV camera caught footage of the crash and there was damage to the retaining wall and a chain-link fence, as well as to one of the pay vacuums at the business.

The driver, a man described as 鈥渉eavy set,鈥� was last seen running barefoot down Haliburton Street, said O鈥橞rien. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.

Daralynn Munroe said she witnessed the incident.

鈥淚t was so scary with the fire and crash,鈥� Munroe said via text message. 鈥淪omeone got a fire extinguisher and put out the flames before it could reach the car. I think everybody was worried about the car catching on fire and exploding and not paying attention to the unconscious man from the vehicle that came to and ran down the alley.鈥�

It is not known if the vehicle was stolen, but O鈥橞rien said police are making efforts to get in touch with the registered owner of the Volvo.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP鈥檚 non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, citing file No. 2022-29605.

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